Top 10 breakthrough technologies of 2020 – TechRepublic
Between tiny AI and unhackable internet, this decade's tech trends will revolutionize the business world.
MIT Technology Review unveiled its top 10 breakthrough technology predictions on Wednesday. The trends--which include hype-inducing tech like quantum computing and unhackable internet--are expected to become realities in the next decade, changing the enterprise and world.
SEE: Internet of Things: Progress, risks, and opportunities (free PDF) (TechRepublic)
While many of the trends have a more scientific background, most can also apply to business, said David Rotman editor at MIT Technology Review.
"Even though some of these sound science-y or research-y, all really do have important implications and business impacts. [For example], unhackable internet," Rotman said. "It's early, but we can all see why that would be a big deal.
"Digital money will change how we do commerce; satellite mega constellations will potentially change how we do communications and the price of communications," Rotman added.The methodology behind determining the breakthrough technologies focused on what writers, editors, and journalists have been reporting on in the past year. All of the technologies are still being developed and improved in labs, Rotman said.
The MIT Technology Review outlined the following 10 most exciting technologies being created and deployed in the next 10 years.
One of the most exciting technologies of the bunch, according to Rotman, quantum supremacy indicates that quantum computers are not only becoming a reality, but the functionality is becoming even more advanced.Murmurs of quantum computer development have floated around the enterprise. The technology is able to process massive computational solutions faster than any supercomputer.
While this form of computing hasn't been widely used yet, it will not only be usable by 2030, but possibly reach quantum supremacy, MIT found.
"Quantum supremacy is the point where a quantum computer can do something that a classical conventional computer cannot do or take hundreds of years for a classical computer to do," Rotman said.
The technology is now getting to the point where people can test them in their businesses and try different applications, and will become more popular in the coming years, Rotman said.
Quantum computers are especially useful for massive scheduling or logistical problems, which can be particularly useful in large corporations with many moving parts, he added.
"Satellites have become so small and relatively cheap that people are sending up whole clusters of these satellites," Rotman said. "It's going to have an enormous impact on communication and all the things that we rely on satellites for."
These satellites could be able to cover the entire globe with high-speed internet. Applications of satellite mega-constellation use are currently being tested by companies including SpaceX, OneWeb, Amazon, and Telesat, according to the report.
Another interesting, and surprising, technology in the study concerned tiny AI. The surprising nature of this comes with how quickly AI is growing, Rotman said.
Starting in the present day, AI will become even more functional, independently running on phones and wearables. This ability would prevent devices from needing the cloud to use AI-driven features, Rotman said.
"It's not just a first step, but it would be an important step in speeding up the search for new drugs," Rotman said.
Scientists have used AI to find drug-like compounds with specific desirable characteristics. In the next three to five years, new drugs might be able to be commercialized for a lesser cost, compared to the current $2.5 billion it takes to currently commercialize a new drug, the report found.
Researchers are now able to detect climate change's role in extreme weather conditions. With this discovery, scientists can help people better prepare for severe weather, according to the report.
In less than five years, researchers will find drugs that treat ailments based on the body's natural aging process, the report found. Potentially, diseases including cancer, heart disease and dementia could be treated by slowing age.
Within five years, the internet could be unhackable, the report found.
Researchers are using quantum encryption to try and make an unhackable internet, which is particularly important as data privacy concerns heighten, Rotman said.
Digital money, also known as cryptocurrency, will become more widely used in 2020. However, the rise of this money will also have major impacts on financial privacy, as the need for an intermediary becomes less necessary, according to the report.
Occupying three trends on the list, medicine is proving to potentially be a huge area for innovation. Currently, doctors and researchers are designing novel drugs to treat unique genetic mutations. These specialized drugs could cure some ailments that were previously uncurable, the report found.
Differential privacy is a technique currently being used by the US government collecting data for the 2020 census. The US Census Bureau has issues keeping the data it collects private, but this tactic helps to anonymize the data, a tactic other countries may also adopt, according to the report.
For more, check out Forget quantum supremacy: This quantum-computing milestone could be just as important on ZDNet.
Be in the know about smart cities, AI, Internet of Things, VR, AR, robotics, drones, autonomous driving, and more of the coolest tech innovations. Delivered Wednesdays and Fridays
Image: Urupong, Getty Images/iStockphoto
Here is the original post:
Top 10 breakthrough technologies of 2020 - TechRepublic
- Quantum Computing Could Bring Bitcoin Chaos. The Rush Is On To Stop Crypto-geddon. - Investor's Business Daily - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Forget D-Wave: This Stock Is the Next Quantum Computing Winner - Nasdaq - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Einride and IonQ test quantum computing for freight optimization - Engineering.com - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Distributed Quantum Computing Achieves Advantage with Slow Interconnects and up to Five Times Longer Entanglement Generation - Quantum Zeitgeist - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- This Is the Quantum Computing Stock Billionaires Want to Own for 2026 (Even Warren Buffett) -- and It's Not IonQ, Rigetti Computing, or D-Wave Quantum... - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Will This Quantum Computing Stock Be a Must-Own in 2026? - The Motley Fool - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- The 3 Smartest Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy With $1,000 in 2026 - The Motley Fool - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Rail Vision Ltd. Signs Agreement to Acquire 51% of Quantum Transportation Ltd. to Enhance Railway Safety Through Quantum Computing Technologies -... - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- The Best Quantum Computing Stock to Own If the Bubble Bursts (Hint: It's Not D-Wave, IonQ, or Rigetti) - Nasdaq - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Should You Buy Quantum Computing Stocks in 2026? - The Motley Fool - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Prediction: The Quantum Computing Bubble Will Burst in 2026, and These 3 Stocks Will Go Down With It - The Motley Fool - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- 7 Quantum Computing Trends That Will Shape Every Industry In 2026 - Forbes - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. Have Issued a $926 Million Warning to Wall Street for 2026 - Nasdaq - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- IBM: Without talent there will be no breakthrough for quantum computing - Techzine Global - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Einride and IonQ Partnership Uses Quantum Computing to Optimize the Logistics of Electric and Autonomous Freight - The Quantum Insider - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- SandboxAQ Partners with Department of War CIO for Post-Quantum Migration and Cyber Defense - Quantum Computing Report - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Microsoft and Algorithmiq Partner to Advance Fault-Tolerant Quantum Chemistry Solutions - Quantum Computing Report - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Vanderbilt University and EPB Launch Innovation Institute to Accelerate Quantum Breakthroughs in Tennessee - Quantum Computing Report - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- D-Wave Quantum stock initiated with Outperform rating by Mizuho on quantum computing potential - Investing.com - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Qubit Pharmaceuticals Announces Dual Breakthroughs: Quantum Speedup and 2028 Utility Path for Drug Discovery - Quantum Computing Report - December 12th, 2025 [December 12th, 2025]
- Prediction: This Stock Will Be the Biggest Quantum Computing Winner of 2026 - Nasdaq - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Where Will Quantum Computing Stock Be in 1 Year? - Yahoo Finance - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing (QUBT): Reassessing Valuation After First Profit, Cybersecurity Win, and New AI Partnerships - Yahoo Finance - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Quantum Teleportation Achieved Between Dissimilar Quantum Dots Over Hybrid Network - Quantum Computing Report - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Turned $1,000 Into Nearly $6,000 While Losing $27 on Every Dollar of Revenue - Yahoo Finance - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing (QUBT) Jumps 9.7% on Bargain-Hunting - Yahoo Finance - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- IonQ Is Yesterday's News: Buy This Quantum Computing Stock Instead - Nasdaq - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Looking for a Better Quantum Computing Stock Than IonQ? Wall Street Loves This One. - AOL.com - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Has NTT sparked the long-awaited quantum-computing revolution? - Fast Company - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- IonQ Just Locked In Another Defense Deal. Should You Buy the Quantum Computing Stock Here? - Barchart.com - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Holds The Missing Key To The Future of Artificial Intelligence - USA Herald - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Inside the mind of a Nobel physicist: John Martinis on the future of quantum computing - CTech - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- D-Wave forms new unit to target U.S. government quantum computing needs - Investing.com - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- What Is the Smartest Quantum Computing Stock to Buy Right Now? - The Motley Fool - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- New semiconductor could allow classical and quantum computing on the same chip, thanks to superconductivity breakthrough - Live Science - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Rigetti Computing and D-Wave Quantum - Yahoo Finance - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Prediction: This Will Be the Next Quantum Computing Stock That Berkshire Hathaway Buys - The Motley Fool - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Scientists Describe Exciton Formation in Thin Magnetic CrystalsWith Potential for Quantum Computing or Other Advanced Technologies - NREL (.gov) - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Assessing the Valuation of IonQ (IONQ) as Investor Interest in Quantum Computing Grows - simplywall.st - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Infleqtion and Voyager Technologies Partner to Integrate Quantum Timing and Sensing in Space Infrastructure - Quantum Computing Report - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Where Will Quantum Computing Inc. Be in 5 Years? - The Motley Fool - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Top 5 Ways to Gain Exposure to a Potential $100 Billion Quantum Computing Market - The Globe and Mail - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Where Will Quantum Computing Inc. Be in 5 Years? - Yahoo Finance - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Will Pop the AI Bubble, Claims Ex-Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, Predicting GPUs Wont Survive the Decade - Wccftech - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- IonQ and CCRM Form Strategic Investment Partnership to Accelerate Quantum-Biotech Therapeutics - Quantum Computing Report - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- What NTT (TSE:9432)'s Quantum Computing Partnership Could Mean for Optical Innovation and Growth - simplywall.st - December 2nd, 2025 [December 2nd, 2025]
- The 4 Smartest Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy for $1,000 (Hint: IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum Didn't Make the Cut) - Yahoo Finance - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- IBM and Cisco have a new partnership as they target a quantum-computing internet - MarketWatch - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- The 4 Smartest Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy for $1,000 (Hint: IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum Didn't Make the Cut) - The Motley Fool - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- 1 Popular Quantum Computing Stock to Sell Before It Falls 20%, According to a Wall Street Analyst - Yahoo Finance - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Prediction: This Quantum Computing Stock Could Make You a Millionaire (Hint: It's Not Pure-Plays IonQ, Rigetti Computing, or D-Wave Quantum) - The... - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Stock Has Tumbled This Year. Why Earnings Have the Market Excited. - Barron's - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Inc. Stock (QUBT) Opinions on Q3 2025 Earnings and Technology Launch - Quiver Quantitative - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- Institutional Investors Piled Into IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. Stocks -- and They'll Likely Regret It - The... - November 23rd, 2025 [November 23rd, 2025]
- The Ultimate Quantum Computing Stock Is Hiding in Plain Sight - Yahoo Finance - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- This is the Only Quantum Computing Stock You Should Buy - Yahoo Finance - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Prediction: Quantum Computing Stocks IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum Will Plunge 50% (or More) in 2026 - Yahoo Finance - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Quantum computing is getting realand Britain wants to lead - The Economist - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing News: Microsoft Expands in Europe as IBM and IonQ Boost Global Quantum Investments - TipRanks - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Inc (QUBT) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue and Strategic ... - Yahoo Finance - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- IBM sees a big milestone ahead for quantum computing and it hinges on these new chips - MarketWatch - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- AI, Big Data, and Quantum Computing: Which Will Lead 2026 Investments - River Journal Online - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- This is the Only Quantum Computing Stock You Should Buy - 24/7 Wall St. - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- 1 Standout Quantum Computing ETF That's High on My Watch List Right Now - The Globe and Mail - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Prediction: Quantum Computing Stocks IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum Will Plunge 50% (or More) in 2026 - The Motley Fool - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- As IBM Rallies on a Quantum Computing Breakthrough, Heres Where the Stock Could Be Headed Next - Yahoo Finance - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Classiq Secures Strategic Funding from AMD, Qualcomm Ventures, and IonQ - Quantum Computing Report - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- This is the Only Quantum Computing Stock You Should Buy - MSN - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- IBM says 'Loon' chip shows path to useful quantum computers by 2029 - Reuters - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Prediction: Quantum Computing Stocks IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum Will Plunge 50% (or More) in 2026 - Nasdaq - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Why quantum computing teams at JPMorgan and other banks are being outshined by AI - eFinancialCareers - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Quantum computing pure plays duel with giants, rivals - Constellation Research - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Inc (QUBT) Q3 2025 Earnings Report Preview: What to Expect - Yahoo Finance - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Pure-Play Stocks IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. Just Issued a $749 Million Warning to Wall... - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Quantum computing stocks are surging but short-seller Andrew Left is still betting against them - Business Insider - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- This Blue Chip Company Just Announced Quantum Computing 'Breakthroughs.' Its Stock Hit a New High - Investopedia - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- IBM Just Announced a Massive Jump In Quantum Computing. These Industries Will Benefit Most - Inc.com - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- What security teams should do to prepare for the quantum computing future - CyberScoop - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Commit To Buy Quantum Computing At $5, Earn 30% Using Options - Nasdaq - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]
- Is Quantum Computing Stock IonQ Headed to $60? History Offers a Clear Warning About What Could Happen Next - The Motley Fool - November 14th, 2025 [November 14th, 2025]